MADRID, 28 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s water polo team has been eliminated this Tuesday in the World Swimming Championships, which are taking place in Budapest, after losing their quarter-final match against their ‘black beast’, the United States (13-8), so that those of Miki Oca will not be able to fight for the medals.
The ‘Guerreras’, who tried to make up for their defeats against the North Americans both in the finals of the last two World Championships and in the Olympic Games in Tokyo (14-5), withstood the push of the current champions in the first half thanks to a solid defense, but succumbed in the last two quarters.
With 14 defeats in their last 14 matches against the American team, the statistics did not invite optimism in the Isla Margarita pool, especially when those of Adam Krikorian seemed to escape with only three minutes played (3-1).
Oca then bet on bringing in Martina Terré under the sticks and withdrawing the veteran Laura Ester, and Spain won a 3-0 run, with goals from Maica García, Elena Ruiz and Bea Ortiz, who put them ahead for the first time ( 3-4).
After the Americans tied, Judith Forca put the Spanish team ahead again, but Maggie Steffens and Maddie Musselman were in charge of leaving their team ahead at half-time (6-5). It was only the beginning of a reaction that was confirmed in the third act, closing a 4-0 run that was lethal for the ‘Guerreras’ (8-5).
Those of Krikorian marked Maica García and Paula Leitón and thus cut the fluidity of an Iberian team that could not find the way to goal. Spain paid dearly to advance as second in the group and is left out of the fight for the medals.
In this way, they will not be able to repeat the medal for the third consecutive World Cup -silver in 2017 and 2019-, while the Americans will face Italy in search of another final in which to win their fourth world championship in a row.
